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BananaPlac

Banana Fibres for Material Development

50/2010

After harvesting, the stem of the banana fruit is mere organic waste – but not useless. In Brazil, the use of banana tree fibers is widespread as a material for furniture or interior design. Inserted into a bio-PU matrix based on vegetable oils, the fibers are used as reinforcing and, for example, can take the place of fiberglass-reinforced components in vehicle construction. Moreover, good experiences have been made using banana fiber as an additive for cement and concrete materials. In Europe, thermally malleable panels using banana fiber can be obtained from Barktex, which first caught the eye with a bark-based textile material. Designers can obtain specimens in different colors for a fee. Last but not least, the paper and wood industries are also using this organic material.